Can a child develop an allergy to nuts, specifically peanuts, if I eat too much while pregnant?

Question

Just wondering because I think I read that somewhere before and I just wanted to know if anyone else has heard that. I crave peanut butter everynight and limit myself to one teaspoon.

Answer 1

It's a THEORY ONLY. I ate peanut butter & jelly at least once a day but typically two or three times a day with my oldest. I didn't eat meat at the time and gave birth to a 8lb baby boy with NO FOOD ALLERGIES WHATSOEVER. He is nine, so I know this for sure.

My son knows a set of twins, one is allergic to peanuts SERIOUSLY allergic; the other is not at all. So if that's true, how can it make one twin allergic and not the other?

Answer 2

1984 study by a Dahl, shows that food proteins can cross the placenta barrier and affect fetal immune systems. A lot still depends on genetics and environment, which is why they say that if someone else in your family is allergic, it's important to limit exposure in early childhood. Mega exposure AFTER birth is also more likely to create an allergy.

My son is highly allergic to wheat, he's the only person in our extended family who is, and I feel that it's because I ate so much wheat germ while pregnant (it's good for vericose veins). If no one else in your family is allergic, I don't think a serving or two of peanut butter a day is harmful. Now, if you're eating the whole jar..then I'd be thinking worrisome thoughts, but more about fat intake than anything else ;-)

Maybe if you just gorged on it you'd get sick of the peanut butter and not want anymore?

Answer 3

I've always heard that if you don't eat something that has nuts like peanut butter that the child would be more likely to develop and allergy to them. Eating too much though, I've never heard of that. Maybe it's one of those urban myths but either way, ask your doctor for a better answer.

Answer 4

There is still a great deal of contraversy about this subject. There are many leading experts that say, yes -- it can lead to allergies that develop earlier in the child, and there are other studies that say, no -- it's all just heresay and depandant on the "history of the family".

Take a look at some of these links:

"....Other studies have also shown that, as peanut products become more common in the diet, peanut allergy is being observed at earlier ages. Peanut allergy is also seen in very young children due to sensitization in utero and infancy via breast milk, if the mother eats peanuts..."
( http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=105&STORY=/www/story/02-15-2001/0001429189 )

"...New research indicates that early exposure to peanuts—most commonly peanut butter—and increasing consumption of it may be contributing to the prevalence of the allergy..."
( http://www.calgaryallergy.ca/Articles/English/whypeanutswhynow.html )

"...Most American children are exposed to peanuts in the first year of life either through food or breast milk, or in utero when their mothers eat peanut products. In countries where peanut butter consumption is low, peanut allergies are also much less common..."
( http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/15/AR2006051501146_pf.html )

Answer 5

yes, apparently a child can develop an allegy to nuts especially peanuts, I am from the UK and over here they stress the importance of not eating peanuts whilst being pregnant as we pass these things to the baby through the placenta and this can cause allegies after birth.

Answer 6

Not unless you have a family history of peanut allergies. Eating peanuts during pregnancy is perfectly fine.

Answer 7

I only heard its dangerous if you have a history of hay fever or allergies to peanuts, then it's dangerous, I don't' think the amount you eat has anything to do with it

Answer 8

what to expect while your expecitng says not to use LOTIONS with peanut oil in them because it can cause the baby to be allergic to peanuts. man im glad u asked this though, i never thought of it, and here i am 13 weeks pregnant n munching on a handful of peantus!!

Answer 9

i once read in a magazine yrs ago...that if u eat a variety of foods while pregnant..your baby is less likely to develop food allergies...well it worked for me...my children are healthy and have no allergies...

Answer 10

It has nothing to do with what you are eating. It's genetics to some degree, bad luck for the rest of it.